Herbert Spencer\'s Functionalism PDF

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According to functionalism, theories in sociology and anthropology have attempted to explain social institutions and other phenomena primarily in terms of the functions they perform. There are a number of different ways in which a particular social institution, social activity, or social phenomenon ...

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Herbert Spencer's Functionalism Introduction According to functionalism, theories in sociology and anthropology have attempted to explain social institutions and other phenomena primarily in terms of the functions they perform. There are a number of different ways in which a particular social institution, social activity, or social phenomenon can affect how the rest of these entities operate, including punishment for a crime and rewards for scientific discoveries that go above and beyond. Social theory in the nineteenth century was sometimes described as a "organic analogy" by some of its proponents. In the same way that there is a biological organism, this concept of analogy is derived from biology. A society can be thought of as a living organism made up of many interconnected and interdependent organs. Its origins can be traced back to early 19th-century organicism. Herbert Spencer was one of the pioneers of the concept of 'organic analogy.' Durkheim, a French sociologist, was one of the most prominent advocates of the theory of the functions of social institutions. B. Malinowski and A.R. Radcliffe-Brown, two of the most influential British social anthropologists of the early twentieth century, advocated the study of social life in terms of its social functions. For a long time, structuralfunctionalism or structural-functional perspective dominated the sociology scene in various regions of the world. Two prominent American sociologists, Talcott Parsons and R.K. Merton, conducted some evaluations of contemporary social processes in American sociology. In addition to other contributions that have been overlooked, the work of these two American sociologists is regarded as ground-breaking from a functional perspective. Some fundamental ideas of the founders of neo-functionalism have been retained in this later and more recent approach to theorising about society. Finding the limitations of current functionalism, it improves on the original functionalism.

Herbert Spencer's According to some historians of sociology, Auguste Comte's organist and evolutionary approach to sociology can be traced back to Hebert Spencer (1820-1903). But he has a fundamentally different outlook from Comte. To quote him, "Comte tried to give a coherent account of the progression of human conceptions," whereas his goal was to "describe the necessary and the actual, filiation" of things, which he claims he is aiming to do in order to "interpret the genesis of phenomena which constitute nature" (Coser 1996). Spencer categorises aggregates as either organic or social based on how quickly they grow in size. From an undifferentiated state in which the parts all resemble one another to a differentiated state in which they are mutually dependent, social aggregates like organic ones grow (ibid). As a result, there is an increase in interdependence and integration as a result of increasing differentiation. However, Herbert Spencer's basic consideration of parts with growing differentiation becoming interdependent and this working towards or resulting in integration shows the genesis of the elements of "structuralfunctional" theories of society as an organism, a living whole, by most sociologists. Herbert Spencer was largely considered an evolutionary sociologist. Writings like Spencer's are said to have laid the groundwork for the modern concept of social function in the nineteenth century. Principles of Sociology, his best-known work, contains an in-depth examination of social structure and function. This is where sociology's first theory of social function was conceived (Bottomore 1975). Later, other sociologists and social anthropologists in the late nineteenth and early to mid twentieth centuries have taken it up systematically, rigorously and clearly. Herbert Spencer's functionalist philosophy can be summed up as follows: ⦁We are all part of a system (an organic whole or organism). There are many interconnected and dependent parts that form a unified whole. • As a whole, society can only be comprehended in terms of specific structures, each of which serves a specific purpose. • If the systems are to survive, they must meet their requirements (i.e. continuity of society). Understanding the needs that a structure serves is the first step in determining its function.

For all of his contributions to functionalism in sociology, Herbert Spencer has been a controversial figure, especially when it comes to his views on the social system as a living organism that can be studied in the same way as biological organisms. That's why it's hard to categorise him as a functionalism, but an evolutionist. For sociologists, the two most important books he wrote during his lifetime are "Principles of Sociology" and "The Study of Sociology" (published during 1870-1880s). John Stuart Mill, Huxley, and other radical thinkers held him in high esteem. Emile Durkheim, philosopher The French sociologist David Emile Durkheim (1858-1917) is widely regarded as the father of French sociology and the discipline of sociology as a whole. Empirical research was combined with Sociological Theory in the development of a rigorous methodology. His research centred on the development and operation of traditional and modern societies. Four of his works, The Division of Labor in Society, The Rules of Sociological Method, Le Suicide, and Elementary Forms of Religious Life, are considered the most valuable by sociologists around the world. The subject of sociology and its methodology were clearly defined by Emile Durkheim. Herbert Spencer's contributions provided some inspiration for him, which he incorporated selectively. Consolidating and clarifying the concept of (social) functions, he established functionalism as a well-established and rational doctrine. In his well-known work "The Division of Labor in Society," he pioneered the precise concept of "functions," in which he examined the social effects of the division of labour (or for the society as a whole). In order to understand these functions, we first need to understand how he defines them. A more nuanced approach to function is first taken up by his book "Division of Labor in Society." Social institutions' functions, according to him, are defined as 'correspondence between them (the institutions) and social organisms (the society) (this analogy of social organism is derived from Spencer). In other words, it means that a social institution fulfils a social need. What, then, is society's most pressing need? His research focuses on this issue. According to him, the maintenance of social solidarity is a fundamental social need (in other words, integration of society). He

asks, 'What is the role of division of labour in society?' He frames this problem in terms of a pressing issue for society as a whole. Durkheim sees social solidarity as a fundamental requirement of society. The basis for this social solidarity is provided by the division of labour in Industrial Society (as it was in Western Europe in the latter half of the nineteenth century). Societies like these are becoming increasingly distinct from more homogeneous ones. Durkheim sees solidarity as a necessity because without it, society may break apart and cease to exist as a society. Later, in "The Elementary Forms of Religious Life," he takes on the task of investigating the origins and purposes of religion. According to Durkheim, one of the greatest sources for regulating society is religion, which serves as a means to maintain social solidarity. In order to govern the affairs of the collective, religion brings people together into a common system of ideas (collective consciousness). 'Anomie' is a pathological (abnormal) form that is likely to occur if the vital need, of maintaining social solidarity, is not met. Sociology is distinct from other social sciences because of its emphasis on social context. Perspectives in other social sciences besides sociology In sociology, he is regarded as the father figurehead of the functional perspective or theory. There is no doubt that some social thinkers believe that his functionalism is based on evolutionary theory, and this is certainly the case to some extent. The credit, however, would go to him for establishing sociology as a distinct field with its own subject matter and methodology. Likewise, he is responsible for the development of a functional perspective on social theory....